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Where does the word "orphan" come from? It comes from Greek orphanos, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "orphan" come from? It comes from Greek orphanos, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1400s).
Orphan’s story begins in Greek: orphanos meant “bereaved.” Related to Latin 'orbus', bereft. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as orphanus. Used in the Latin Bible. It reached English by 1400s as orphan. In typography, a stray line at the top of a page. Today, orphan means a child whose parents have died.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient orphanos "bereaved", related to Latin 'orbus', bereft.
- Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient orphanus "orphan", used in the Latin Bible.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s orphan "a child without parents", in typography, a stray line at the top of a page.